Match Preview: Basingstoke Town v Wimborne Town FA Trophy 1st Rnd Sat 27th Oct 2018

Match Preview: FA Trophy 1st Round Qualifier Round
Basingstoke Town v Wimborne Town
When: Saturday 27th October 2018
Where: The Camrose, Basingstoke, RG22 6EZ

Following last Saturday’s deserved 0-3 win at Staines in the league, we venture back into our next cup competition, this time the FA Trophy, as we entertain fellow Southern League division opponent Wimborne Town at the Camrose.

Our previous exploits in the FA Trophy in recent years have been far from perfect, and we will be playing a Wimborne team that had significantly picked up since we narrowly beat them in the league back in September.

Wimborne on that day, looked highly impressive going forward and for those who can remember, Basingstoke were able to score twice after 90 minutes to somehow amazingly pick up the 3pts.

Wimborne, after last night’s loss at Swindon Supermarine 3-2, now sit in 19th place, with 10pts, from 12 games, with just 3 wins, 1 draw, and now 8 losses. Their recent form home until the last four days had been better, with 2 wins in a row at home, 5-0 against Kings Langley and 3-2 against Frome Town.

However, last night’s loss and Saturday’s 3-2 loss at Hendon, with other results in the league going against them, has sent them spiralling back towards the relegation zone once again.

The Magpies epitomize most teams in the league this year, as they score goals in abundance, but leak them especially away from home as well.

Their forward line produces their goals with ex-Poole Town duo Toby Holmes & Luke Burbidge with 7 & 3 goals respectively. The Magpies other forward Jack Lovell who was one of the scorers against us back in September has 2 goals. In midfield they have Franklyn Clarke who has found the back of the net 3 times in the last four games.

As for Basingstoke, our record in the FA Trophy has not been good in recent years. losing 2-1 at Dorchester last season and then losing in the 2nd round the year before 2-0 at Bath City. However, with our first home game in this cup for 3 years, I am hoping that we can progress a little further and bring some cup cheer to our fans.

With this hope, our defence will need to reproduce a performance like last week at Staines where we mostly shut down crosses into our penalty area. Captain Charlie Kennedy although most unnoticeably had a much better game last week defensively and apart from a deflection from Sam Argent would have been on the scoresheet last week. If Injury concern Dan Collier is fit to play and starts, I would hope we can hold the Magpies striking threat, from attacking deep in our half.

Going forward I’m sure I’m not the only one who thought we took our foot of the pedal once we had got the 3-goal lead at Staines last week. We dominated possession then, and it would be good to see the same again this week.

Jack McKnight continues to be the star of the team with five goals in five games, and his overall play once he has the ball, will no doubt have attracted interest from other clubs, looking for a skilful and powerful midfielder.

Forwards Sam Argent and Ben Wright linked up well last week and it was good to see Sammie get a brace of goals, which will no doubt give his confidence a boost going forward.

There is still concern over the ongoing back injury to forward Callum Bunting, whose entry into the game in the 2nd half only lasted 20 minutes last week before being replaced.

Winger Sam Smart produced a much better performance, whilst Sam Deadfield had another solid performance, but was again out-shadowed by McKnight’s finish in scoring Stoke’s 2nd goal.

Apart from conceding the penalty (which he saved), McAdden looked solid and turned in one of those games, where he didn’t look like conceding no matter how long the game went on.

The weather looks dry and sunny for this Saturday, so I hope we can get a good crowd down the Camrose this Saturday and Jason’s boys return the favour with a win and a place in the2nd round draw.

Odds please on Friday.

Match Preview by Martin French